Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood—a man who, it sadly must be said, is a dead ringer for all of the Sopranos characters combined—has announced he is exiting the Obama administration for the greener pastures of. . . not the Obama administration.

To the question you didn’t ask:Ray LaWho?The New York Times has a recap—a raycap, if you will, of his tenure: LaHood was “the sole Republican to serve in [Obama’s] first term cabinet” and “[a]s the transportation secretary, Mr. LaHood was at the center of efforts to reduce fatigue among pilots and called for greater investment in high-speed rail. He also pushed for large fines against Toyota for safety problems and for a new transportation bill in Congress.” High-speed rail! Huh! Are America’s countrysides and exurbs now overrun with efficiently run, European-style, environmentally conscientious forms of public transportation? (Not a rhetorical question: we’re unable to visit most countrysides and exurbs because we do not own a car and there is no available train to tak—never mind! Got it.)

Rumored to be in the running for transportation secretaryship are the following Ray-placements: “Antonio Villaraigosa, the Democratic mayor of Los Angeles; Ed Rendell, the former governor of Pennsylvania; Debbie Hersman, the chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board; and Jennifer Granholm, the former Democratic governor of Michigan.” Just at first glace, that third option sounds more qualified than the others.